Victorian colt Ready for Golden Slipper

Eliza Park International colt Ready For Victory is on track for the G1 Golden Slipper Stakes following a brilliant debut at Flemington on Saturday.

Ready For Victory’s Listed win in the VRC Festival Of Racing 1000 saw the Mick Price trained colt firm into $15 for the $3.50 million stallion-making race at Rosehill on March 21.  “He will be new to the reverse way and it looks a hot field this year,” Price said.  “It’s a big task but you certainly can’t win it sitting at home.

The More Than Ready colt is from a half-sister to G1 AJC Champagne Stakes winner Meurice and he was a $240,000 buy for Eliza Park / Sun International owner Cheung Ting Kong.

“Sun International buy these colts with a view to running them in the better races,” Price continued.  “He’s pretty educated and full of himself and we were disappointed when he got a cold and had to miss the Blue Diamond.”

Nick Hall was forced to work hard aboard Ready For Victory down the straight course – he clocked 33.06s for the final 600m to collar speedy filly Heatherly close to home.  “For a horse that we’ve done a lot of work with, he was a little bit new on the day,” Hall said.  “He came off the bridle quite early and had to do a lot of chasing, so it was a good effort to the line.”

Sun International colt Fighting Sun was one of the favourites for the 2014 Golden Slipper after winning the LR Canonbury Stakes by three lengths before a suspensory injury curtailed his career.

Fighting Sun (Northern Meteor) retired to Eliza Park International last year and covered 147 mares in his first book at a $13,750 (inc gst) service fee.